GC8Y7FM Guns, Germs, and Geocaches
Type: Multi | Size: Other | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: K Trackers @ | Hide Date: 08/11/2020 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 58.058 W104° 43.217 | Last updated: 06/19/2022 | Fav points: 0
                             

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Note

This is a night cache (5 stage, close proximity, multi-cache) requiring employment of various techniques associated with night geocaching; but seldom found in a single cache. The cache is intended to provide an introduction to these techniques for night cache novices while providing a unique combination of required skill sets to (hopefully) entertain veterans. Please refrain from shining lights into nearby houses and try not to compromise cache infrastructure to muggles. Please note the listed attributes. BYOP.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (previously titled Guns, Germs and Steel: A Short History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years) is a 1997 transdisciplinary, non-fiction book by Jared Diamond. Diamond argues that the successes and conquests of Eurasian civilizations was not a result of superior intelligence; but of opportunity and necessity generated by geography. In 2003 and 2007, the author published new editions that included information collected since the orginal edition without a change to the original conclusions. The intellectual criticisms levied against the work stem from the emphasis on geography and the exclution of “humanistic” factors such as religion, culture, ethics, etc. Additionally,  the book and author have come under attack from the political left since the thesis refutes the ideology that conquest was driven by racism and societies inherently evil.

Most objective readers, even those with some criticism of the book, laud Guns, Germs, and Steel for its excellent research, smooth reading style, and exceptional use of the transdisciplinary approach to support the thesis. For this humble cache owner, it was one of the top three most influential books I have ever read. In 1997, Guns, Germs, and Steel won the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science followed by a Pulitzer Prize in 1998. Additionally, the book earned both the Aventis and Royal Society's Rhône-Poulenc Prizes for Science Books. The National Geographic Society produced a documentary based on the book in July 2005.

Cache Overview

This is a 5 stage multi-cache which must be done at night. At each stage, be prepared to employ one or more of the following night caching techniques: 1) following reflectors, 2) interpreting reflector placement, 3) search employing a UV light, and 4) searching for a container at night.

(Stage 1) Proceed to the posted coordinates to begin your hunt. You are looking for coordinates to the second stage.

(Stage 2) Proceed to the second stage coordinates to begin a reflector trail. Unlike most night caches, the next reflector will only be visible from the previous one. When searching for the next reflector, try to stand as close as possible to the reflector you just found while maintaining good lines of sight. You may have to look up, down, or in a 360° arc for the next reflector. If you are having trouble seeing the next reflector, trying taking a couple steps and repeat your visual sweep. Continue to the end of the reflector trail, stage 3.

(Stage 3) The reflector trail ends at a reflector shaped like an “X.” Within 3 feet of this “X” you will find the coordinates to stage four.

(Stage 4) Proceed to the fourth stage coordinates to look for 1 - 5 reflectors. These reflector(s) will only be visible from the fourth stage coordinates. Based upon the number of reflectors you find, you will either have to search that spot or go approximately 30 – 40 feet in the designated direction to reach the final. You may have to look up, down, or in a 360° arc for the reflector(s). These reflectors are somewhat hidden, so you have to look closely for them. There is no need to push tree branches.

(Stage 5) At the Final Stage begin your hunt for the final container and log. Good luck!

Although not as long as most, if you complete this cache as your first night cache; then you should be able to complete any night cache out there.

 

Special thanks to Qaz for the execellent, hand crafted replacement container for stage 3.

Additional Waypoints

08/22/2020 By K Trackers
I checked on the Stage 4 reflectors and they are in place. This is the hardest stage and it can be easy to miss if not looking in the right spot.

08/21/2020 By Rob14erGuy
Took my family out here for a night adventure. Things went smoothly all the way to stage 4. We stood at those coordinates and all four of us with three flashlights were unsuccessful. We looked all over for reflectors but couldn't find anything. Knowing that each one should be 30 - 40 feet, we expanded our search but never found a single reflector. It probably didn't help that the house's motion detector light came on but we still searched for about 20 minutes before giving up.

08/18/2020 By K Trackers
The cache has been restored and is ready for the next cacher. Special thanks to Qaz for the handcrafted replacement container.

Enjoy!

08/17/2020 By K Trackers
The stage 3 container has already been muggled, in less than 24 hours. Clearly it was geography that drove them to do that. I should have a replacement prepared within the next 24 - 72 hours.

08/17/2020 By RPieperCO
{FTF} Woo Hoo!! Thanks for the well done, very difficult, but very satisfying night multi! I saw this publish earlier in the day and thought it would be a great one to do after work since I've been trolling the area late at night anyways. I reached out to Qaz who was more than happy to join me. We set a schedule based on my second job and planned to meet up after dark. We arrived onsite and began our search. First stage, check! Second stage.... huh??? We wondered off in the wrong direction. Back at stage 2, Ahhhh here we go!! Stage 3??? Huh?? No luck! We reached out to the CO and he was gracious enough to meet us here. He confirmed the stage was already missing! Wow! Not even 24 hours as noted! With help we arrived at the next stage. Well more head scratching, more wandering, more blank stares into the black abyss! After awhile the CO took pity on us and pointed us in the right direction area... DANG!!! That's pretty evil! We had been close, just not close enough! With that we were off to the final! Great hide that didn't take too long to track down. While signing the log the nearby homeowner came out to see what we were up to with flashlights in the "middle of the night looking suspicious" I took the time to explain what it was, where it was, and that they have nothing to worry about and assured them the amount of traffic would probably be minimal. They seemed satisfied and went back inside. We spent about another 45 minutes chatting and catching up on events and caching. I very much enjoyed the evening and being able to meet up with a couple friends. Thanks for all the hard work put into this and the fun that goes with a well executed cache. Much appreciated and throwing in a favorite for it!